Boiler-covering



(No Model.) G. 0. GILMAN.

BOILER COVERING.

No. 328,581. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN, OF ELDORA, IOWVA.

BOILER-COVERING.

SPECIFICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,581, dated October20, 1885.-

Serial No. 162,218. (No model.)

1 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. GILMAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Eldora, Hardin county, Iowa, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Boiler Coverings or Sheathings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a boiler covering which ischeap, durable, a good non-conductor of heat, and easily applied andremoved; and to this end my invention consists in the combination, witha boiler, of a sectional sheathing of terra-cotta lumber or porousburned brick material, applied in man ner as hereinafter fully describedand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figurel represents a cross-section of a boiler covered with blocksofterra'cotta lumber according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents theapplication to a boiler of tongued and grooved sheathingblocks. Fig. 3illustrates the application of the terracotta lumber blocks to that partof a boiler beyond the fire-box, and Figs. 4 and 5 represent anotherform of sheathing-blocks with means for retaining the same in place.

The material I employ as a boiler-covering is known as terra-cottalumber, and is made in accordance with the specifications of UnitedStates Reissued Letters Patent Nos. 10,419 and 10,420, heretoforegranted to me. I do not, however, desire to limit myself solely to theuse of said material, as any porous burned brick material ofsubstantially the same porosity as the terracotta lumber is within thescope of myinvention. The cellular or spongelike character of saidmaterial (due to the imprisoned sawdust being burned to ashes in thekiln) makes the same an excellent non-conductor, for the numerousair-cells in the body of the ,material serve as so many dead-air spacesto prevent the conduction of heat. The said material may be molded tothe shape or form desired, or it may be sawed or cut with edged tools,and thus close-fitting joints secured.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, A represents the boiler, to which the blocksB, solid or hollow, of terra-cotta lumber are directly applied, the samebeing laid up, as shown, in mortar of cement or of clay. In Fig. 2theblocks or slabs overlap by means of tongues 1 and grooves 2, the saidgrooves being cut deeper than the length of the projecting tongues, soas to leave a dead-air space when two blocks arejoined between the endofthe tongue of one and the bottom of the groove of the other. In orderthat the blocks of this form may be readily applied and as readilyremoved, I employ the top or key block, (J, which is provided withflanges or projections 3, to overlap the tongues of the adjacent blocksand to preserve the continuity of the outer surface. The said blocks maybe cemented together, if desired.

In Fig. 3 the blocks on the underside of the boiler are held in place bya support or supports, D, the upper blocks resting on the boiler and onthe lower ones.

The block E, instead ol'being wedge-shaped, as shown, may be providedwith tongues for engagement with the adjacent blocks.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the blocks are constructed so as to overlap by means ofan offset at each end on opposite sides, forming projections 6, by whichconstruction all of the blocks surrounding a boiler are permitted to beof the same form.

In Fig. 5 the blocks 4 and 5 are half-blocks produced by cutting a wholeblock in two parts. The half-blocks may be molded in the form shown, ifdesired. These blocks are secured together by nails 7, applied at theplaces where they overlap each other. In Fig. 4 only the upper blocksneed to be nailed together, as the lower ones are held up by the supportD.

The blocks shown in the several figures may be shorter or longer thanshown without in volving a departure from my invention. All of theblocks illustrated are laid lengthwise of the boiler shown, so as tobreak joints with each other.

I am aware of United States Letters Patent No. 213,558, dated March 25,1879, granted to Field and Howard, which describes a plastic materialcomposed of sawdust mixed with clay applied to the surface of asteam-pipe, the said plastic material being covered by ashell or pipeformed of baked porous clay made by mixing twenty-five per cent. of claywith seventy-five per cent. of sawdust or coal-dust and burned in akiln; but this differs materially or terra-cotta lumber are constructedso as to from my invention, and to it I lay no claim; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A boiler provided with a sectional covering of terracotta lumber, thesections of which are constructed and arranged to over-' through theoverlapping portions to hold the sections together, substantially asdescribed. v 3. .A boiler provided with a sectional covering ofterra-cotta lumber, the sections of which are formed with tongues andwith grooves of greater depth than the length of the tongues, so thatwhen the sections are fitted togethera dead-air space is provided,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name in the pnesence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN.

Witnesses:

EDMUND RIcE, REUBEN B. GALUSHA.

